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Emely Callejas
Professor Jennifer Rodrick
QS English 115
15 November 2016
A Single Man (rough draft)
When one thinks of the 60s, one thinks about the King of Rock and Roll, The Civil
Rights Movement, The Vietnam War or how women aspired to fit the mold of Audrey Hepburn.
Yet, in A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood describes the 1960s through a different set of
eyes. Taking place in Los Angeles, California where a gay middle-aged professor named George
who has to constantly live with the pain about the tragic death of his former lover Jim. The lack
of love and attention towards George, others opinions on George, reckless distractions and
feeling comfortable with other men is the causes of Georges actions. The saying the older, the
wiser doesnt relate to George because throughout his journey, he is still desperately struggling
to find his peace and happiness. Yet, he finds himself to suffer depression.
Everyone needs attention and love, whether they deny it or not. George feels the same
way and the author shows how George is on a search to find just that no matter the
circumstances.

In A Single Man, Christmas is just around the corner and George has thoughts
about fleeing to Mexico. At the thought of Christmas, George feels a chill of desperation.
Maybe he'll do something drastic, take a plane to Mexico City and be drunk for a week and run
wild around the bars (Isherwood 23). Christmas time is about spending time with loved ones.

Unfortunately for George, he really doesnt have anybody so he tries to compensate for that. In
an blog called Asylum, John Self comments on how George fills in his void in hopes of finding

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new men. ... living alone since the death of his lover Jim in a car crash, and consoling himself
with the sight of beautiful young men (Self). In Mexico, George hoped to find a man like Jim to
give him love and affection. In another scene, a student named Kenny bought George a pencil
sharpener as a friendly gesture but George saw it as something more. Oh, but--well, thank
you! George is actually blushing a little. It's as if he has been offered a rose (Isherwood 23). In
another blog called Connection Failed: An Analysis of Christopher Isherwoods [A Single Man],
Angel Matos talks about how George is quite desperate for anytime of attention from a man.
His sexuality pushes him to feel a desire that is nearly impossible to quenchthus forcing
George to live vicariously through small interactions, touches, and brief exchanges that he has
with other men.What is clear here is that George is a man who is starving for connection. He
craves to feel part of whole, even if this connection with the whole is momentary (Matos).
George is deprived of affection from a man so any chance he gets, he will take the moment and
make it his own even if it is just thoughts or small gestures.
George is always facing
the fear of how others perceive him. A scene in A Single Man,
George looks at himself in the mirror every morning, picking out his appearance according to
how he thinks people see him. By the time it has gotten dressed, it has become he; has become
already more or less George--though still not the whole George they demand and are prepared to
recognize (Isherwood 11). George dresses the way he does because he wants to fit peoples
perspectives. Angel Matos states George does this to feel whole. George is characterized by
being overly concerned about what other people think about him. When other characters are
talking to him, Georges mind engages in a frantic interpretive mode in which he tries to
determine what is going through the other speakers mind.therefore, is a contributing factor

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that adds to Georges notions on fragmentation and the lack of wholeness in his life (Matos).
George wants to fit into a normal category leading him to depression. Sadly, George is forced
to play the role that fits the role of a college professor. With the skill of a veteran he rapidly
puts on the psychological make-up for this role he must play (Isherwood 41). George is very
used to playing the role because people have standards they expect him to reach. Angel Matos
also states His role, as he sees it, is to keep calm and carry on.Yet when he approaches
another day of his lecturing job as putting on the psychological makeup for this role he must
play (Matos). This supports the idea of George being forced into the role because even though
he seems calm and collective on the outside, it is only due to the fact he is used to it. Negative
atmospheres did have a great affect on Georges life which led him to be unhappy with himself.
Although George constantly fears judgement from other characters, he manages to find a
place where feels comfortable. In a scene where George goes to the gym on an unusual day, he
finds himself feeling at peace. How delightful it is to be here. If only one could spend one's
entire life in this state of easygoing physical democracy. Nobody is bitchy here, or ill-tempered,
or inquisitive (Isherwood 109). George finally finds an environment where frankly, people
dont care who you are; you are one of them for a moment. In Asylum, John Self writes that for a
moment, George isnt thinking about suicidal thoughts while he secretly challenges Webster.
George gets his fix of death-denial in the gym, panting in both senses as he challenges a
teenager to sit-ups (Self). George doesnt face judgement while he is at the gym working out,
people see him as just George. The gym is somewhere where
George doesnt have to act the part. One could imagine
George as the cartoon shown and that it is his daily notion.

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While George is at the gym, he doesnt have to switch anything about him. George faces a
tremendous about of opinions from people on the daily basis, but him working out at the gym
gives him a sort of acceptance.
George is known to abusively drink, do reckless things and to doze off while driving
because it acts a temporary escape for him. When driving on the freeway, George feels relaxed.
And George, like a master who has entrusted the driving of his car to a servant, is now free to
direct his attention posture elsewhere. As they sweep over the crest of the pass, he is becoming
less and less aware of externals--the cars all around, the dip of the freeway ahead, the Valley
with its homes and gardens opening below (Isherwood 36). George lets his body go in
automatic while he relaxes and enjoys the ride. Angel Matos states that George does this to do as
he pleases. George undergoes experiences that separate his thoughts from the actions that his
body partakes inalmost as if his body were engaging in auto-pilot mode, leaving the pilot of his
consciousness free to do and think whatever he please (Matos). Even in the unusuals spaces,
George finds a way to distract himself from his problems. George often gets drunk to take his
mind off of things and he ends up swimming naked with his student Kenny. The last remaining
minim of George's caution is aware of the lights and the possibility of cruise cars and cops, but
he doesn't hesitate, he is no longer able to; this dash from the bar can only end in the water. He
strips himself clumsily, tripping over his pants (Isherwood 162). He was very much aware of
the consequences but he didnt care because he felt young; like he belonged somewhere. A
blog called Vishys Blog writes an article named Book Review No.28 A Single Man by
Christopher Isherwood. The writer who goes by the name Vishy, talks about drinking is a good
distraction for George. But George is drunk in a good way, and one that he seldom achieves

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(Vishy). Vishy states he doesnt get drunk to cause problems, but it helps George with his
self-esteem. George distracts himself because he knows that those place is where he can find his
true self.
George shapes his identity in many forms like distractions, the need of affection from a man,
being himself in a judge free environment and by shaping his identity to form others standards.
Although, in A Single Man ends with George dying in his sleep, one can interpret this as his
mind finally being set free or finally reuniting with Jim. Most of his life, George was part of a
minority and continues to talk about the majority being a better and desirable place, that he longs
to be there. No matter what George did throughout his life, he ended up in the way anyone would
want to; a peaceful death.

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Works Cited Page

How to Make People Feel Comfortable Around You. Digital image. WikiHOW. Google Images,
n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.

Isherwood, Christopher. A Single Man. Minneapolis: U of Minnesota, 2001. Print.

Matos, Angel Daniel. "Connection Failed: An Analysis of Christopher Isherwoods [A Single

Man]." The Ever and Ever That Fiction Allows. N.p., 22 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.

Self, John. "Christopher Isherwood: A Single Man." Asylum. N.p., 25 Jan. 2010. Web. 15 Nov.
2016.

Vishy. "Book Review No.28 A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood." Vishy's Blog.
Wordpress, 15 Oct. 2010. Web. 15 Nov. 2016.

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